Portrait studio light



March 1966 J. T. ANESHAQSLEY 3,233,353

PORTRAIT STUDIO LIGHT Filed June 25, 1962 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORATTORNEY United States Patent 3,238,363 PORTRAIT STUDIO LIGHT James T.Aneshansley, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to BerkeyPhoto, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 25,1962, Ser. No. 204,921 10 Claims. (Cl. 240-13) The present inventionrelates to portrait studio lights, and more particularly to such lightsincluding a light housing and a reflector with an adjustable lampassembly.

The lamp assembly may carry an incandescent lamp or an electronic flashtube, or both, in which event the incandescent lamp may be used as amodeling light to determine the proper position and characteristics ofthe light produced by the electronic flash. The characteristics of thelight produced may be varied by adjusting the position of theincandescent and electronic flash tubes inwardly and outwardly of thereflector.

The present invention aims to provide a portrait studio light in whichthe lamp assembly is adjustable with respect to the reflector.

The construction in accordance with the invention is advantageous inthat the lamp assembly is readily removable from the light housing andreflector as for repair of the assembly or for substitution of anotherassembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portrait studiolight with a readily removable lamp assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and from the accompanying drawings which show, byway of example, an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portrait studio light in accordancewith the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the light showing both an incandescentmodeling lamp and an electronic flash tube installed in the unit.

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the light assembly.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the light partly in section to reveal themechanism for adjustment of the lamp assembly.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the pressure member 52 shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of pressure member 52 as seen looking from theright of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is an end view of pressure member 52 as seen looking from theleft of FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIGURE 1 a portrait studiolight assembly 1 comprising a light housing 2, a reflector 3 and asupporting yoke 4 having attachment means 5 at the bottom thereof formounting the studio light assembly on a conventional stand. The light 1also includes a lamp assembly 6 which may carry an electronic flash tube7 and an incandescent lamp 8. A handle 9 in conjunction with anoperating rod 10 may be used to adjustably position the lamp assemblywithin the light housing 2.

The light housing 2 has a tubular passage 11 extending therethrough.Preferably the passage 11 may have a circular cross sectional shapealthough, alternatively, the passage 11 may be of rectangular or ofother cross sectional shapes.

The reflector 3 may be of any conventional shape well known in the art.The light housing 2 may be formed with an outer wall 12 and an innerwall 13 to add rigidity to the construction and to provide space forengagement of thumb screws 14 or the like for securing the yoke 4 orother supporting means in position.

The lamp assembly 6 includes a socket housing 15 of ice generallytubular shape with flat end walls 16 and 17. The shape of the sockethousing 15 should be such that it will fit in the passage 11 of thelight housing 2. End wall 16 may be made integrally with side wall 19.End wall 17 is removable. The side wall 19 has an opening 20 therein.The end Wall 17 is apertured as indicated at 21 and has another opening22 to receive the operating rod 10. In the end wall 16 may be formedsocket means 24 to receive connection prongs 25 of the electronic flashtube 7.

A tubular member 26 extends axially of the socket housing 15 and may bemade integral at one end with the end wall 16. A boss 27 is formed inthe inner surface of the tube 26. An incandescent lamp socket 29 ispositioned in the tube with one end abutting against the boss 27. Abracket 30 is attached to the socket 29 by a pin 30a and the bracket 30'is formed with a threaded aperture 31. The handle member 9 has agenerally U-shaped bracket member 32 apertured as indicated at 34 and at35 to respectively receive the operating rod 10 and a threaded screwmember 36, the openings 35, 21 and 31 being in alignment so that thethreaded screw member 36 extends therethrough providing the sole meansof holding the assembly together.

A guiding channel member 40 is slideable on the outer surface of thetube 26 and is in back-to-back relationship with a channel member 41having tapered edges 42. The channel members 46 and 41 are securedtogether and to flattened portion 44 of the operating rod 10 by screws45. A spring 50 abuts between a reduced portion 51 at the end ofoperating rod 10 and the end wall 16 of the housing 6, one end of thespring 50 being received in a boss 50a formed in the end wall 16, thespring 50 normally tending to urge the operating rod 10 with the channelmembers 40 and 41 to the left so as to cause the operating rod 10 tomove outwardly of the housing 6.

A pressure member 52 is formed of an arcuate shape so as to fit theopening 20 in the side wall 19 of the light housing. The outer surfaceof the pressure member 52 is curved to match the contour of the sidewall 19. On the inner surface of the pressure member 52 are a pair oftapered grooves 54, the bottom of which conform to the angle of thetapered surface 42 so that upon an inward movement of the operating rod10 the tapered surface 42 of the channel member 41 moves to the light soas to allow the pressure member 52 to move inwardly.

A sleeve 55 of rubber or other yieldable material is positioned aroundthe side wall 19 and holds the pressure member 52 in position within theopening 20.

In using the studio light assembly in accordance with the invention thelight characteristics of light emanating from the reflector 3 may bevaried by adjustably positioning the light assembly 6 within the passage11 of the light housing 2. The adjustment may be made by grasping thehandle 9 with the fingers and pushing the rod 10 inwardly with the thumbwhich releases pressure between the pressure plate 52, the rubber sleeve55 and the tubular surface 11 so that the light assembly 2 may be movedaxially or rotatively and upon the release of the operating rod 10 islocked firmly in position.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference toa specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that otherembodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention.Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be consideredas illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having apassage extending therethrough, a lamp assembly including a sockethousing fitting the passage in the light housing, the socket housinghaving an opening in the sidewall thereof, an operating rod extendinginto the socket housing, a tapered member secured to the operating rod,a spring tending to urge the operating rod outwardly of the housing, apressure member fitting said opening in the sidewall of the sockethousing, the pressure member having a tapered groove on the undersidethereof receiving the tapered member, and a yieldable member positionedover the socket housing holding the pressure member in position.

2. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having apassage extending therethrough, a lamp assembly including a sockethousing fitting the passage in the light housing, the socket housinghaving an opening in the sidewall thereof, an operating rod extendinginto the socket housing, a tapered member secured to the operating rod,a spring tending to urge the operating rod outwardly of the housing, apressure member fitting said opening in the sidewall of the sockethousing, the pressure member having a tapered groove on the undersidethereof receiving the tapered member, and a rubber sleeve positionedover the socket housing holding the pressure member in position.

3. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having apassage extending therethrough, a reflector carried by the housing at anend thereof, a lamp assembly including a socket housing of generally thesame shape as the passage in the light housing, the socket housinghaving end walls, the socket housing having an opening in the sidewallthereof, guiding means in the socket housing, a lamp socket in one endwall of the socket housing, a handle member, a guiding channel memberslideable on the guiding means, a channel member with tapered edges inback-to-back relationship with the guiding channel member, an operatingrod extending into the socket housing through the other end wallthereof, the channel members secured to the operating rod, a springtending to urge the operating rod outwardly of the housing, a pressuremember fitting said opening in the sidewall of the socket housing, thepressure member having a pair of tapered grooves on the undersidethereof slideably receiving the edges of the tapered channel member, anda rubber sleeve positioned over the socket housing holding the pressuremember in position.

4. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having apassage extending therethrough, a reflector carried by the housing at anend thereof, a lamp assembly including a socket housing of generally thesame shape as the passage in the light housing, the socket housinghaving end walls, the socket housing having a pressure member opening inthe sidewall thereof, guiding means in the socket housing, a lamp socketin one end wall of the socket housing, a bracket attached to the lampsocket and having a threaded aperture, a handle member having a pair ofopenings therein, one of the end walls of the socket housing having apair of openings therein, one of the openings in alignment with one ofthe openings of the handle member, a threaded screw extending throughsaid one of the openings of the handle member through one of theopenings of said one end wall and engaging in the threaded aperture ofthe socket bracket thereby holding the assembly together, a guidingchannel member slideable on the guiding means, a channel member withtapered edges in back to back relationship with the guiding channelmember, an operating rod extending into the socket housing through saidother end wall opening, the channel members secured to the operatingrod, a spring tending to urge the operating rod outwardly of thehousing, a pressure member fitting said opening in the sidewall of thesocket housing, the pressure member having a pair of tapered grooves onthe underside thereof slideably receiving the edges of the taperedchannel member, and a rubber sleeve positioned over the socket housingholding the pressure member in position.

5. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having apassage extending therethrough, a refiector carried by the housing at anend thereof, a lamp assembly including a socket housing of generally thesame shape as the passage in the light housing, the socket housinghaving end walls, one of the end walls removable, the other fixed, thesocket housing having an opening in the sidewall thereof, a tube axiallypositioned in the socket housing and attached to the fixed end wall, alamp socket in the socket housing, means securing the socket to thetubing, a handle member, a guiding channel member slideable on the tube,a channel member with tapered edges in back-to-back relationship withthe guiding channel member, an operating rod extending into the sockethousing through the removable end wall, the channel members secured tothe operating rod, a spring tending to urge the operating rod outwardlyof the housing, a pressure member fitting said opening in the sidewallof the socket housing, the pressure member having a pair of taperedgrooves on the underside thereof slideably receiving the edges of thetapered channel member, and a rubber sleeve positioned over the sockethousing holding the pressure member in position.

6. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having apassage extending therethrough, a reflector carried by the housing at anend thereof, a lamp assembly including a socket housing of generally thesame shape as the passage in the light housing, the socket housinghaving end walls, one of the end walls removable, the other fixed, thesocket housing having an opening in the sidewall thereof, a tube axiallypositioned in the socket housing and attached to the fixed end wall, alamp socket in the socket housing, means securing the socket to thetubing, a bracket attached to the lamp socket and having a threadedaperture, a handle member having a pair of openings therein, theremovable end wall of the socket housing having an opening in alignmentwith one of the openings of the handle member, a threaded screwextending through said one of the openings of the handle member theopening of the removable end wall and engaging in the threaded apertureof the socket bracket holding the assembly together, a guiding channelmember slideable on the tube, a channel member with tapered edges inback-toback relationship with the guiding channel member, an operatingrod extending into the socket housing through the removable end wall,the channel members secured to the operating rod, a spring tending tourge the operating rod outwardly of the housing, a pressure memberfitting said opening in the sidewall of the socket housing, the pressuremember having a pair of tapered grooves on the underside thereofslideably receiving the edges of the tapered channel member, and arubber sleeve positioned over the socket housing holding the pressuremember in position.

7. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having atubular passage extending therethrough, a reflector carried by thehousing at an end thereof, a lamp assembly including a socket housing ofgenerally tubular shape with generally fiat end walls, one of the endwalls fixed, the other removable and having a pair of openings therein,the socket housing having an opening in the sidewall thereof, a tubeaxially positioned in the socket housing and integral with the fixed endwall, an incandescent lamp socket in the tube, a bracket attached to thelamp socket and having a threaded aperture, a handle member having apair of openings therein, one of the openings in the removable end wallof the socket housing in alignment with one of the openings of thehandle member, a threaded screw extending through said one of theopenings of the handle member through said one of the openings of theremovable end wall and engaging in the threaded aperture of the socketbracket holding the assembly together, a guiding channel memberslideable on the outer surface of the tube, a channel member withtapered edges in back-toback relationship with the guiding channelmember, an operating rod extending into the socket housing through theother of said openings of the removable end wall and through the otheropening of the handle member, the channel members secured to theoperating rod, a spring tending to urge the operating rod outwardly ofthe housing, a pressure member fitting said opening in the sidewall ofthe socket housing, the pressure member having a pair of tapered grooveson the underside thereof slideably receiving the edges of the taperedchannel member, and a rubber sleeve positioned over the socket housingholding the pressure member in position.

8. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having atubular passage extending therethrough, a reflector carried by thehousing at an end thereof, a lamp assembly including a socket housing ofgenerally tubular shape with generally flat end walls, one of the endwalls fixed, the other removable and having a pair of openings therein,electronic flash tube socket means in the other end Wall, the sockethousing having an opening in the sidewall thereof, a tube axiallypositioned in the socket housing and integral with the fixed end walls,an incandescent lamp socket in the tube, a bracket attached to the lampsocket and having a threaded aperture, a handle member having a pair ofopenings therein, one of the openings in the removable end wall of thesocket housing in alignment with one of the openings of the handlemember, a threaded screw extending through said one of the openings ofthe handle member through said one of the openings of the removable endwall and engaging in the threaded aperture of the socket bracket holdingthe assembly together, a guiding channel member slideable on the outersurface of the tube, a channel member with tapered edges in back-to-backrelationship with the guiding channel member, an operating rod extendinginto the socket housing through the other of said openings of theremovable end wall and through the other opening of the handle member,the operating rod having a flattened end, the channel members secured tothe flattened end of the operating rod, a spring tending to urge theoperating rod outwardly of the housing, a pressure member fitting saidopening in the sidewall of the socket housing, the pressure memberhaving a pair of tapered grooves on the underside thereof slideablyreceiving the edges of the tapered channel member, and a rubber sleevepositioned over the socket housing holding the pressure member inposition.

9. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having atubular passage extending therethrough, a reflector carried by thehousing at an end thereof and having an opening at least of the samediameter as the tubular portion of the housing, a lamp assemblyincluding a socket housing of generally tubular shape with generallyflat end walls, one of the end walls fixed and the other removable andhaving a pair of openings therein, the socket housing having an openingin the sidewall thereof, a tube axially positioned in the socket housingand integral with the fixed end wall, a boss extending into the tubing,an incandescent lamp socket in the tube and abutting against the boss, abracket attached to the lamp socket and having a threaded aperture, ahandle member having a pair of openings therein, one of the openings inthe removable end wall of the socket housing in alignment with one ofthe openings of the handle member, a threaded screw extending throughsaid one of the openings of the handle member through said one of theopenings of the removable end wall and engaging in the threaded apertureof the socket bracket holding the assembly together, a

guiding channel member slideable on the outer surface of the tube, achannel member with tapered edges in back-toback relationship with theguiding channel member, an operating rod extending into the sockethousing through the other of said openings of the removable end wall andthrough the other opening of the handle member, the channel memberssecured to the operating rod, a spring tending to urge the operating rodoutwardly of the housing, a pressure member fitting said opening in thesidewall of the socket housing, the pressure member having a pair oftapered grooves on the underside thereof slideably receiving the edgesof the tapered channel member, and a rubber sleeve positioned over thesocket housing holding the pressure member in position.

10. A portrait studio light assembly comprising a light housing having atubular passage extending therethrough, a reflector carried by thehousing at an end thereof and having an opening at least of the samediameter as the tubular portion of the housing, a lamp assemblyincluding a socket housing of generally tubular shape with generallyfiat end walls, one of the end walls fixed, the other removable andhaving a pair of openings therein, electronic flash tube socket means inthe other end wall, the socket housing having an opening in the sidewallthereof, a tube axially positioned in the socket housing and integralwith the fixed end wall, a boss extending into the tubing, anincandescent lamp socket in the tube and abutting against the boss, abracket attached to the lamp socket and having a threaded aperture, ahandle member having a pair of openings therein, one of the openings inthe removable end wall of the socket housing in alignment with one ofthe openings of the handle member, a threaded screw extending throughsaid one of the openings of the handle member through said one of theopenings of the removable end wall and engaging in the threaded apertureof the socket bracket holding the assembly together, a guiding channelmember slideable on the outer surface of the tube, a channel member withtapered edges in back-to-back relationship with the guiding channelmember, an operating rod extending into the socket housing through theother of said openings of the removable end wall and through the otheropening of the handle member, the operating rod having a flattened end,the channel members secured to the flattened end of the operating rod, aspring tending to urge the operating rod outwardly of the housing, apressure member fitting said opening in the sidewall of the sockethousing, the pressure member having a pair of tapered grooves on theunderside thereof slideably receiving the edges of the tapered channelmember, and a rubber sleeve positioned over the socket housing holdingthe pressure member in position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,116,847 11/1914Russell 240-53 1,950,445 3/1934 Braselton 24011.4 2,550,698 5/ 1951 Kinget a1.

2,691,918 10/1954 Robins et a1 2401.3 X 2,898,448 8/1959 Smith 2401.32,906,862 9/1959 McCammon 24044.2 X 2,982,936 5/1961 Penncock et a1 7,33945 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner,

1. A PORTRAIT STUDIO LIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LIGHT HOUSING HAVING APASSAGE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A LAMP ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A SOCKETHOUSING FITTING THE PASSAGE IN THE LIGHT HOUSING, THE SOCKET HOUSINGHAVING AN OPENING IN THE SIDEWALL THEREOF, AN OPERATING ROD EXTENDINGINTO THE SOCKET HOUSING, A TAPERED MEMBER SECURED TO THE OPERATING ROD,A SPRING TENDING TO URGE THE OPERATING ROD OUTWARDLY OF THE HOUSING, APRESSURE MEMBER FITTING SAID OPENING IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE SOCKETHOSUING, THE PRESSURE MEMBER HAVING A TAPERED GROOVE ON THE UNDERSIDETHEREOF RECEIVING THE TAPERED MEMBER, AND A YIELDABLE MEMBER POSITIONEDOVER THE SOCKET HOUSING HOLDING THE PRESSURE MEMBER IN POSITION.